Postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome and porcine circovirus from pigs

Abstract

The cloning of a novel PCVII viral genome is described as is expression of proteins derived from the PCVII genome. These proteins can be used in vaccine compositions for the prevention and treatment of PCVII infections, as well as in diagnostic methods for determining the presence of PCVII infections in a vertebrate subject. Polynucleotides derived from the viral genome can be used as diagnostic primers and probes.

1. A baculovirus containing and expressing an exogenous nucleotide sequence, wherein the nucleotide sequence encodes an immunogenic polypeptide having at least 85% identity to the polypeptide encoded by ORF 6 (SEQ ID NO:5). 
     
     
       2. The baculovirus of  claim 1 , wherein the immunogenic polypeptide has at least 90% identity to the polypeptide encoded by ORF 6 (SEQ ID NO:5). 
     
     
       3. The baculovirus of  claim 1 , wherein the immunogenic polypeptide has at least 95% identity to the polypeptide encoded by ORF 6 (SEQ ID NO:5). 
     
     
       4. The baculovirus of  claim 1 , wherein the immunogenic polypeptide has at least 98% identity to the polypeptide encoded by ORF 6 (SEQ ID NO:5). 
     
     
       5. An isolated host cell transformed with the baculovirus of  claim 1 . 
     
     
       6. A method for producing an immunogenic polypeptide having at least 85% identity to the polypeptide encoded by ORF 6 (SEQ ID NO:5) comprising transforming a host cell with the baculovirus of  claim 1  and culturing the transformed host cell under conditions whereby the immunogenic polypeptide is expressed. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the immunogenic polypeptide has at least 90% identity to the polypeptide encoded by ORF 6 (SEQ ID NO:5). 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the immunogenic polypeptide has at least 95% identity to the polypeptide encoded by ORF 6 (SEQ ID NO:5). 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the immunogenic polypeptide has at least 98% identity to the polypeptide encoded by ORF 6 (SEQ ID NO:5). 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 6 , further comprising isolating the immunogenic polypeptide from a cell lysate of the transformed host cell. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising purifying the immunogenic polypeptide. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 6 , further comprising purifying the immunogenic polypeptide from media in which the transformed host cell was cultured. 
     
     
       13. A baculovirus containing and expressing an exogenous nucleotide sequence, wherein the nucleotide sequence encodes an immunogenic polypeptide comprising at least 25 contiguous amino acids of the polypeptide encoded by ORF 6 (SEQ ID NO:5). 
     
     
       14. An isolated host cell transformed with the baculovirus of  claim 13 . 
     
     
       15. A method for producing an immunogenic polypeptide comprising at least 25 contiguous amino acids of the polypeptide encoded by ORF 6 (SEQ ID NO:5) comprising transforming a host cell with the baculovirus of  claim 13  and culturing the transformed host cell under conditions whereby the immunogenic polypeptide is expressed. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , further comprising isolating the immunogenic polypeptide from a cell lysate of the transformed host cell. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , further comprising purifying the immunogenic polypeptide. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 15 , further comprising purifying the immunogenic polypeptide from media in which the transformed host cell was cultured.